Color inversion and detail effects on face recognition

Two separate studies were completed to demonstrate the importance of color location and focus on face recognition. The first study manipulated Gaussian Blur (GB) and inversion (IN). GB is the process of taking an image out of focus, the higher the cycle the more out of focus the image will appear. IN is the process of changing the dark color with light color and the light color with dark color, like a colored photographic negative. In the study, twenty celebrity faces (10 female and 10 male) were exposed to six different manipulations: three levels of GB and two levels of IN (present and absent). Each of the 41 participants was exposed to all 120 images. Results showed that as the GB increased, there was a decrease in performance. When IN was present, there was also a decrease in performance. However, when GB and IN were used in combination, performance did not decrease further. The second study manipulated higher levels of GB and Glowing Edge (GE). GE is the process of highlighting the contours of the face in different colors. One hundred twenty participants were randomly exposed to one of the six conditions following one practice list. The results were measured using a between subjects design which showed an interaction between GB and GE, indicating both were a contributor to face recognition. It was demonstrated that facial recognition is contingent upon proper color location